The authors reviewed transfusion practices after cardiac surgery in Australia and New Zealand using a database of nearly 43,000 patients. Transfusion rates for >=1 unit varied 3-fold (22% to 67%), for >=5 units varied 5-fold, >=1 platelet pack varied 3-fold, >=1 FFP varied 4 fold, and >=1 cryoprecipitate varied 20-fold. The differenc
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Critical Care
April 24, 2014
The authors, well-known experts in critical care medicine, provide a detailed and usedful overview of critical illness polyneuropathy. This affects 25% to 100% of ICU patients and is associated with impaired recovery after cricial illness.
April 14, 2014
This study evaluated the use of ultrasound to assess diaphragm thickening, rather than diaphragm motion, to predict extubation success. Measurements were made in 63 ventilated patients, end-expiration and end-inspiration differences in thickness during spontaneous breathing were calculated, and the outcome was extubation within 48 hr. The ROC AUC w
March 18, 2014
This study randomized severely septic patients to either 20% albumin or crystalloid for resuscitation, with a primary outcome of mortality at 28 days. During the first week the albumin pts had a higher MAP and lower net fluid balance. Total administered fluids did not differ between the groups. Morality was similar at 28 and 90 days, and the rate
March 18, 2014
This randomized trial assigned septic pts to resuscitation with a MAP goal of 80-85 mm Hg or 65-70 mm Hg. There was no difference in mortality at 30 or 90 days. Afib was more common in the high goal pts, and high goal pts with chronic hypertension required less renal replacement therapy.